Man falls from roof, fatally impales himself on fence in Pomona

Pomona authorities on Saturday were investigating a freak accident in which a man fatally impaled himself on an iron fence.

"We know he was up there by himself but we don't know what he was going up there or if alcohol or drugs could've been a factor," said police Sgt. Steve Congalton on Saturday morning.

The unidentified Pomona man was up on the roof of an apartment complex in the 2400 block of Angela Street around 2 a.m. when he fell onto the fence, fatally injuring him, officials said.

"Neighbors called 9-1-1 after they heard him fall," Congalton said.

Police and paramedics found the man on the fence in an alley behind the apartment building, police said. He was bleeding heavily from his stomach. The man was pronounced dead a short time later, but it was not immediately clear if he died at the scene or if paramedics were able to get him to a hospital.

It was unclear if he lived in the building.

Investigators were waiting for the Los Angeles County Coroner's Office to release its findings before they can determine if drugs or alcohol played a roll in what appears to be an accident.